Understanding Scale and Proportion in Art

1. Scale and Proportion

2. What is the difference between scale and proportion?

3. Scale and Proportion Scale and proportion both relate to size. Scale refers to the size of an object seen in relation to other objects in the environment. Proportion is the size relationship of parts to a whole and one another (within the same object), or size measured against a mental norm or standard.

4. Terms associated with scale and proportion: Format- refers to the size and shape, thus scale and proportion of a two-dimensional picture plane. The format an artist uses affects the entire composition of a particular work. Hieratic Scale- is the use of unnatural proportions to show the relative importance of figures. Important figures are larger.

5. Format- refers to the size and shape, thus scale and proportion of a two-dimensional picture plane. The format an artist uses affects the entire composition of a particular work.

6. Hieratic Scale- is the use of unnatural proportions to show the relative importance of figures. Important figures are larger. Fra Filippo Lippi

7. What are the uses of scale and proportion in art?

8. Human Scale Reference Context Internal Proportions Contrast of Scale Scale Confusion Notions of the Ideal

9. Human Scale Reference- this is the scale of the work itself—its size in relation to other pieces of art, its surroundings, or in relation to the human body it encounters.

10. Human Scale Reference- this is the scale of the work itself—its size in relation to other pieces of art, its surroundings, or in relation to the human body it encounters. Ron Mueck

11. Context- the specific location of a work of art affects the work’s scale and proportion. For example, an earthwork, which is an environmental process that exists outdoors, is generally large scale. Monuments and public art works are also generally large in scale.

12. Context- the specific location of a work of art affects the works scale and proportion. For example, an earthwork, which is an environmental process that exists outdoors, is generally large scale. Monuments and public art works are also generally large in scale. Elizabeth Osborne

13. Context- the specific location of a work of art affects the works scale and proportion. For example, an earthwork, which is an environmental process that exists outdoors, is generally large scale. Monuments and public art works are also generally large in scale. Claes Oldenburg/Coojie van Bruggen

14. Internal Proportions- this deals with the size and scale of elements within the composition, in relation to the whole.

15. Internal Proportions- this deals with the size and scale of elements within the composition, in relation to to the whole. Changes in scale within a design change the total effect

16. Internal Proportions- this deals with the size and scale of elements within the composition, in relation to itself. Leonardo DaVinci The Last Supper Emil Nolde

17. Contrast of Scale- this is a variation of emphasis, where the scale of one element is used to draw attention. The scale shift is usually so dramatic as to be unexpected—too large or too small.

18. Contrast of Scale- this is a variation of emphasis, where the scale of one element is used to draw attention. The scale shift is usually so dramatic as to be unexpected—too large or too small. Edgar Degas, Dancer with a Bouquet of Flowers

19. Scale Confusion- the deliberate changing of natural scale to emphasize importance.

20. Scale Confusion- the deliberate changing of natural scale to emphasis importance. Charles Ray

21. Notions of the Ideal- this is proportion linked to ratio. That is to say, we judge the proportions of something to be correct if the ratio of one element to another is correct. One example of this ratio is the golden mean, which is width is to length as length is to length plus width.

22. Notions of the Ideal- this is proportion linked to ratio. One example of this ratio is the golden mean, which is width is to length as length is to length plus width. A Golden Rectangle can be created by rotating the diagonal of the half-square.

23. Notions of the Ideal- this is proportion linked to ratio. One example of this ratio is the golden mean, which is width is to length as length is to length plus width.

24. Notions of the Ideal- this is proportion linked to ratio. One example of this ratio is the golden mean, which is width is to length as length is to length plus width.

25. Notions of the Ideal- this is proportion linked to ratio. One example of this ratio is the golden mean, which is width is to length as length is to length plus width.